The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Grease

Let's talk grease. Chasis lubricating grease.

I have one of those small grease guns and have been using Lithium Grease in it for several years. I use that particular grease because when I go to buy grease, the only kind they have for those guns is Lithium Grease. Here's the deal - I'm not sure what Lithium Grease is or if it's good or not. I hear comments about "gold" grease, but I don't see it packaged for these small grease guns and "gold" grease may be more for wheel bearings. The reason I am questioning this is because when I had my "U" joints built, I found a more clear or "gold" grease in them. Again that's a bearing and that's probably bearing grease.

I'd like to have some comments on this topic. Thanks!

Joe

the reason you don't find 'real grease' to fit those little guns, is they're made specifically for the white lithium grease, which is too light for chassis lube, better for moving parts in machinery, like conveyors, or electric motors [lithium grease is really oil thickened with lithium and other things] - get yerself a real grease gun and some proper chassis grease, which can also be bearing grease, and comes in a variety of colors and ratings

Bill

6cylindersovertexas,

Here are some thoughts. Grease is oil thickened with a 'soap', or thickener.

Additives are combined to give it certain qualities that would be required by the application.

Stringyness additives, anti-wear additives, extreme pressure additives...sort of like making cookies.

The color of a grease is just for the consumer or the ad man. I have been buying a grease lately that is a beautiful blue...I like that color.

Color would have no bearing on the purpose or quality of the product.

So the oil in the grease is going to be about the same with all greases...good oil.

The soap, or thickener is what is different. There is Moly, Poly-Urea, Lithium and probably tons more.

Each one of these soaps has it own characteristic. Some are more waterproof than others, some have a higher melting point than other, etc.

On top of all the above, they add more or less thickener to give the grease its NGLI number...the viscosity for grease..its grade.

You can have a grade from 0000 all the way to 3 (maybe higher?). The 'oughts are light and the 3 is quite firm.

The thick greases will 'channel'...a bearing will turn in them and create a channel as it drives through the thick grease. This is one you wouldn't want in your wheel bearings.

The manufacturers will help you decide what the grease should be used for. It is hard to go wrong if you read the label.

So, that's what grease is..oil in drag!

Stuart

I will bet red58 even has some food grade grease around the apple mashing factory...you can eat this stuff (not really).


Stuart

This is a bit off topic but as long as we are talking about grease, can grease be diluted (thinned) with oil? I only know that there can be chemical differences between the two that can make mixing incompatible petroleums a disaster but can it be done in certain circumstances?

yeah, well there is one set of bearings the health inspectors insist need 'food grade' grease, but the thing I use the most of is food grade silicone, tho I doubt you'd wanna eat that either

Bill

littlebuddie,

Why don't you try your grease dilution experiment. Not many oils and greases are truly incompatible with each other...the oil company just wants you to use their product, so they scare you.

Synthetics is another story.

You can buy just about any grade of grease off the shelf, so you must have a real specific application for your recipe.


Stuart

atomarc - You hit on an issue I've been dithering over. I've never been picky about the grease I buy... just get whatever multi-purpose grease is available in the standard size grease gun tubes at the store I'm shopping in. In the process of reloading my grease gun with a "Multi-Pirpose Extreme Pressure, Moly-Graph Grease" I found this on the tube... "IMPORTANT: Do not mix greases of different base type. Use a solvent to remove and clean out all traces of incompatible grease before repacking. Repack according to manufacture's instructions."

I'm certain I've mixed various "base type" (Moly, Poly-Urea, Lithium) greases over the years while lubing my '49 GMC and was wondering if I'd really messed-up. If I understand your post correctly I don't need to worry about it. Correct?

Mike

Well, I did try an experiment by mixing NAPA multi-purpose lithium complex NGLI #2 consistency with a John Deere 85w-140 gear lube and really liked the result. About a 50-50 mix. I was looking for a steering box lube that was not quite as thick as grease and not as wet as oil and I couldn't find anything. This mix I made is honey colored and about the consistency of thick honey. It is thick enough not to seep past the seal but not so thick that it cleaves in moving parts. It didn't separate after several days of bench testing and is just what I was searching for. So, basically I tried my experiment first and asked about feasibility later. But, it's in there and I guess I could take it back out if anybody tells me it's a bad idea. In the meantime I have a guinea pig bolted between the pitman arm and the steering column on my truck!
Thanks for your input atomarc .

littlebuddie,

As Capt. Hook would say, "good form". If I were going to make a concoction, the steering box would be the perfect place for it.

Itcmikem,

I might have generalized my 'mixing' statement. If I were greasing the front end on my friends car, I would use what was in my grease gun, and not make him run home for his brand.

If I were dealing with a roller bearing that needed to be packed, common sense would dictate cleaning it of all previous grease before packing with fresh.

This would hold true for a wheel bearing, or anything that was able to be cleansed of old material.

I guess what I meant was that It wouldn't bother me to mix Lubriplate with Mobil-plex if they were the same, or near the same, NGLI grade.

I wouldn't mix Esso Mica-axle grease with TRC Corn Shucker Grease...this is a silly example, but I think you get the point.

Most grease the average Joe will see on the shelf of his FLAPS will have almost the same application...maybe different grades and additives, but probably 'mixable'

I am not an engineer...follow the recommendation on the label, but use your common sense too.

Lubricants are a 'slippery subject'. [pun intended]

Stuart

Hey 6 Cylinders,
Clean out one of your old cartridges from your small grease gun and fill it with multi-purpose wheel bearing grease. You'll have your handy little gun with the proper grease,
Scott

Scott -

Now there is an idea!

Thanks!

Joe

I guess I just figured if I kept looking I'd eventually find someplace that carried more than one type of grease mini-cartridges,but it'd be easy enough to just fill my mini from my bigger grease gun...Thanks for the idea!
Speed

My gosh, I bought my last gun from Tractor supply for about 12 bucks. Just buy a manly size gun. Buy my grease there too for about 1.75

No matter what kind of grease you buy, it comes down to how often you grease your truck.

I believe that's supposed to be every 1000 miles correct. I also tried the lube mixed with gear oil concoction for the steering box on my 58. So far so good. I'll probably check it again in a couple of months, but I haven't noticed any grease on or around the steering box; so, I don't think it is leaking anymore, anyway. Mine was a little thinner, more of a fresh honey consistency (just pourable).

Forget all that tech. stuff on grease I like the red stuff.

atomark: I learned the hard way that the #3 grease is to thick for these old ball bearings. I mixed it with white lithium grease and it turned into the perfect consistency. No more wheel bearing problems.

I only use "Depper Dan" gives a slick look and shines.


Sorry, i couldn`t resist

Frank

Actually, Frank, "Royal Crown" is the best, and it's cheap!

Joe

Joe, have you ever tried the famous "BelHair"?
[img]http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g035.gif[/img]

O.K. I think we have to stop this before they throw us outahere.

Frank

I have no problem finding red molly grease for my little gun - try autozone or o'reilly.